5 unmissable meals in the Lake District
A Lake District break usually means plenty of time spent in the great outdoors working up an appetite. What better way to refuel after a hard day's fell-walking or boating than sitting down to one of these gourmet experiences?
Find Out Why L'Enclume Was Previously Voted the UK's No1
It’s hard to get a reservation at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume in Cartmel – so much so that if you really want to go, you might have to secure this booking first, then build the rest of your Lakes getaway around it. That’s what happens when The Good Food Guide names a restaurant as the finest in the country and gives it a perfect score of 10 out of 10 (Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal are the only others to have matched that achievement). Two Michelin stars doesn’t hurt either. So if you do get in, consider yourself lucky and try not to ask for ketchup.
For more info, visit the L'Enclume website
Lunch at the Bluebird Café on the Coniston Shore
A lakeside setting, floor-to-ceiling windows, sheltered terrace and views across Coniston Water make the Bluebird Café an absolute must for lunch, dinner or even just a post-walk coffee and slice of cake. It’s from here that the National Trust’s Steam Yacht Gondola launches – we recommend you don’t do one without doing the other.
For more info, visit the Bluebird's website
Eat at the Holbeck Ghyll, as Featured in 'The Trip'
Since Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon sampled course after course of the Holbeck Ghyll’s 2-AA-Rosette food in their BAFTA Award-winning ‘The Trip’, the hotel and restaurant has achieved the same cult status as the TV show itself. With panoramic views, stylish dining rooms and a menu that showcases "David McLaughlin's dazzling abilities" (AA Hotel Guide 2015), the restaurant is as popular as ever, so be sure to book ahead. Dishes might include pressed terrine of guinea fowl, venison loin with celeriac and juniper, and a millefeuille of raspberries with vanilla panna cotta.
To find out more, visit the Holbeck Ghyll website
Afternoon Tea at the Inn on the Lake, Ullswater
Set in 15 acres of quiet grounds, the Inn on the Lake hotel is a charming lakeside spot for afternoon tea. Orders are taken daily from 12-5pm and the generous spread includes finger sandwiches, pork pies, mini trifles and homemade scones, cakes and biscuits, accompanied by a pot of tea. In good weather, find a seat on the terrace to make the most of the “superb” views of Lake Ullswater (The AA). In winter months, cosy sofas, 360-degree vistas and a crackling fire await in the Orangery. Combine your tea with a tour of the lake – the steamboat’s Glenridding dock is 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel.
For more info, check out the Inn on the Lake's website
Eat at the Remote Wasdale Head Inn, near Scaffel Pike
The word “remote” tends to get overused when describing Lake District locations, but this place truly deserves the attribution. Just beyond the northern end of Wast Water, half an hour’s drive from the nearest village, with Scafell Pike and Great Gable looming over it, the Wasdale Head Inn is a favourite among walkers. There could scarcely be a better place to arrive after a hard day on the fells – a warm welcome is assured, while great food, crackling fires and (should you require it) a comfy bed are all on offer.
For more info, check out the Wasdale Head's website